1-2-08 Oconee County 2008 –Election Year and Opportunity for Change in Direction

We need some good folks running. Successful candidates need the necessary education, world experience and mental and emotional strength to withstand the pressures from Special Interests. We need folks who will support votes and issues that are in the best interests of the entire community.

AVOC

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January 1, 2008

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Oconee County 2008 –Election Year and Opportunity for Change in Direction

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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With elections for all local officials coming in 2008, we could have some changes.

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For the Board of Education, several have said they would not be running (Williams and Franklin). A change in the majority could impact the school system. Many good folks have served on the school boards of the past. Many were motivated by public good and the education of our children.

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In more recent years, the county school system is used as a “sales pitch” for new residents. New schools can encourage and promote residential and commercial development in neighborhoods where they are located. To some observers, there seems to be a nexus to the development community and the school system.

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Some questions to ask candidates for the school board: 1. Can we afford new schools and the staffing and operational costs on a frequent basis? 2. Can we maintain quality of the school system while we grow and sprawl all over the countryside? 3.Will property tax relief ever come for homeowners? 4.Should the School System consult and coordinate with County Planning personnel in locating new schools?

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We need real substantive answers to these and other questions about our schools. Platitudes like “children are our most valuable resource” and “we must spend what it takes to maintain our quality of schools” will not be sufficient to tackle our real challenges. This type reasoning is conducive to the fast growth policies of recent years. Oconee needs to influence and direct the growth and its impact rather than just respond to decisions of the development community.

On the Board of Commissioners, we have much to consider. Some citizens are concerned about the direction of our county and the dominance of the development community. Few people oppose all development but many folks oppose growth for growth’s sake and to just make money for developers. We are all impacted by these decisions.

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We need to change a majority of the Board of Commissioners. We need a change in the Chairmanship. There has been speculation that a member of the Board may run for chairman. Hopefully, this happens so we don’t continue on our current path of fast growth, increasing debt and taxes, stressed roads, schools, water sources and sewer facilities.

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Chairman Melvin Davis is completing his second term. He often manages to avoid taking a public stand on issues.

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The Board membership will be running for staggered terms. There are two positions that will be elected this year for 2 Year terms. Margaret Hale and Donald Norris “volunteered” for the “short terms”. Maybe they want to cap their political careers with “two more years”?

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Commissioner Norris has previously said he would not run again. He has said that several times in the past. There are recent indications that Norris has “not made up his mind”! Norris WILL RUN and will be heavily supported by the Development Community as in the past. With the water shortage and the housing slump, the Development Community may not be as inspired this year. Commissioner Norris needs to retire.

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Commissioner Norris is in his 20th year of being a commissioner. He almost lost in 2004.

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Comments one hears on Commissioner Hale are that she is unpredictable in her votes. To many she is inconsistent as demonstrated in two votes in 2007. While she opposed the Hard Labor Creek Project initially, she voted for the bond debt ($ 66 Million for first phase!) Several observers have said her biggest asset for reelection is being the only female on the Board - hardly a vigorous endorsement. Under the right circumstances, I could vote for her for Chairman over incumbent Davis.

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Votes of Commissioner Margaret Hale often surprise and baffle her supporters and critics

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Comments heard about Commissioner Luke are that he votes with the development community most of the time. He is usually seen as a vote for and an ally of Chairman Melvin Davis.

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Commissioner Luke often allies with the Chairman and votes pro-development

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During this last term, Commissioner Chuck Horton has shown leadership and backbone in not going along with all things wanted by the Chairman. Without Horton, we probably would have had a liquor vote but Horton wants Melvin Davis to take a public stand rather than pressuring behind the scenes. Horton’s resistance to “rubber-stamping” has been healthy for the Board and for the County.

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Chuck Horton has brought some independence to the Board and that is sorely needed in Melvin Davis’s administrations.

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We need some good folks running. Successful candidates need the necessary education, world experience and mental and emotional strength to withstand the pressures from Special Interests. We need folks who will support votes and issues that are in the best interests of the entire community.

Name of water supply provider for this site:, Oconee County Utility Department ...capacity: Currently, all residential sewer capacity has been allocated. .www.dca.state.ga.us/DRI/AdditionalForm.aspx?driid=636 - 50k

WATKINSVILLE - Oconee County Commissioners narrowly approved a controversial new subdivision on a piece of historic land on Old Barnett Shoals Road on Tuesday night, despite nearby residents' fears it will bring more traffic to the rural area.

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The decision rezones 284 acres near the Oconee River, Creekside Country Club and the Clarke County line to allow a 196-lot subdivision known as Old Barnett Estates.

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In the 3-2 vote, commissioners Margaret Hale and Don Norris supported the rezone, and Chuck Horton and Jim Luke voted to reject the request, while Chairman Melvin Davis broke the tie…..